Another week of multiple milestones has passed and Darryl’s journey back gathers more and more momentum, figuratively and literally. The most significant of the achievements, at least in terms of physical demand was on Friday when Darryl managed to walk three lengths of the hoist track at the gym, a total of about 25 metres.
He did this from the safety of a sling from the track above, but it was not supporting him at all. I stood in front and he put his hands on my shoulders to balance and the physio manipulated his right leg and foot which is still quite stiff. One step after another however he made his way across the gym – three times no less. Needless to say the words of Neil Armstrong sprang to mind as those first tentative steps were achieved.
Aside from that however Darryl has been sitting on his own, doing partial squats, sitting on a swiss ball and transferring from his wheelchair to the plinth using a slide board rather than the hoist. All of this is significant in that it shows his core body strength is returning and this is essential in standing.
He continues to exercise in bed or we do a range of stretches and exercises while he is in his wheelchair, all of which will hopefully ensure he won’t be in need of a wheelchair in the not too distant future. It has emerged that with all the improvement and re-gaining of function, there is a trigger to start things ‘going’. It may be slapping the muscle that needs to ’switch on’ or repeatedly moving the limb that can’t do it on its own. In the case of talking, it was fostering a laugh from which self initiated sound could emerge. There seems to be a magic switch for all of it and it’s just a case of trying to find where that switch is and how to flick it on, a process that sounds far less exhaustive than it is in practice.
The other major milestone has been the return of Darryls ability to eat and drink. It is nothing short of astonishing! He has over the past two weeks gone from sipping a tiny amount of water from a teaspoon, to having teaspoon or two of yogurt, to downing a magnificently large roast beef dinner this evening. On Friday Darryl passed the ‘toast test’ meaning he could chew, and swallow toast and was therefore passed for eating a regular diet aside from steak.
From that moment on he has had three meals a day which have varied in size from one and a half servings of roast to four servings of stir fry beef and vegetables with mashed potatoes, followed by a pot of yogurt, two kiwifruit, two bowls of ice cream, a cup of coffee and then a cup of tea and four gingernuts! The size of his meals is only matched by the gasps of amazement by the staff who are overjoyed at his rapid progress.
As his eating is improving (well returned to normal in a matter of days) so too has his ability to speak. Due to a large extent to the exercise of the throat, tongue and facial muscles in chewing. So too then, along with the numerous other achievements, has his talking improved. He has come out with some classic ‘Darrylisms’ such as saying “charming” when he expelled yet another steam bomb, but each day he has also become more inquisitive about his fate and the reason for being at rehab.
He has asked repeatedly what happened to him and what is going on, which while alarming in some ways because he askes quite often, is apparently a very positive sign as it shows he is moving from a state of post traumatic amnesia into the ‘now’. It also means that the gravity of the situation is beginning to dawn on him and the long road ahead and the weeks lost to him for all time are colliding as he emerges from the fog.
One of the difficulties of this phase is continually explaining to Darryl the same information as he can ask and forget within an hour or two as the brain begins to make and store memories of the ‘now’. In this sense I do have the odd chuckle at the ground hog day factor when I catch myself giving the same answers to the same questions over and over. I do manage to refine my answers through this process however. It’s quite a forgiving way to parent actually, as if I don’t quite get it right the first, second or third time, chances are I’m going to get a few more goes at it with a clean slate each time.
In all though, so much improvement has occured this week on a number of different levels and Darryl continues to impress all at the rehab with his recovery and bring joy to us and no doubt you too as he moves great mounds of stones on his long way back.
Darryl, many weeks ago a very dark night descended on all of us and having survived the darkest hour before the dawn, the day broke with a thick blanket of fog which cast doubt on where the way forward was. Well day by day that fog has lifted and the first real rays of sun have begun to shed their warmth on you and us all.
For the first time we can sense the promise of the new day and begin to search through the last threads of mist for the horizon. I am so proud of you Darryl. I am so glad you are back and with each new day you grow stronger and well, just more you again.
You will probably not remember any of this, but buried deep in your subconcious will be the strengthened fabric of your character which has carried you to this point and has grown as you have fought your way back.
You are a very, very special young man. Keep it up.
Love you Darryl
Dad
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